S9846
SHANNON, William David
| Service Number: | 4598 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Kensington, South Australia , July 1888 |
| Home Town: | Norwood (SA), South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | 19 November 1952, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Dec 1916: | Involvement Private, 4598, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Dec 1916: | Embarked Private, 4598, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Berrima, Adelaide | |
| 18 Feb 1917: | Transferred Private, 8th Infantry Battalion, Moved to the 8th Infantry Battalion to train. | |
| 7 Mar 1917: | Transferred Private, 8th Infantry Battalion, Transferred to Fovant Hospital with Influenza. | |
| 7 Aug 1917: | Transferred Private, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Detached from 8th Infantry Battalion for duty in 32nd Infantry Battalion. | |
| 21 Oct 1917: | Involvement Private, 4598, 32nd Infantry Battalion, On/off fighting on the border of Belgium and France around Ypres, Loker and Zonnebeke. | |
| 14 Nov 1917: | Transferred Private, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Proceeds overseas to France. | |
| 28 Nov 1917: | Transferred Private, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Attached to ANZAC section in Fance, 3rd Echelon, General Head Quarters | |
| 31 Jan 1918: | Involvement Private, 4598, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Warneton | |
| 1 Feb 1918: | Promoted Corporal, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Taken on Strength of Australian Section in France, 3rd Echelon, General Head Quarters and promoted to Corporal. | |
| 16 Mar 1918: | Involvement Corporal, 4598, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Battle of Messines, Fighting in Gapaard near Messines | |
| 6 Apr 1918: | Involvement Corporal, 4598, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Fighting around Gentelles and Hamelet in France. | |
| 27 Sep 1918: | Involvement Corporal, 4598, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Fighting in Hebecourt, France. | |
| 16 Oct 1918: | Transferred Private, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Admitted to hospital because of sickness for 22 days in France. | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Corporal, 4598 | |
| 28 Apr 1919: | Embarked Corporal, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Embarked on HMTS "PLassy" on return for Australia. | |
| 5 Jun 1919: | Discharged 32nd Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
-Early Life
William David Shannon was born on July 1888 and lived with his mother, Louisa Shannon and his older brother Thomas Patrick Shannon on William Street, Norwood, South Australia. Before enlistment in 1916, William’s occupation was a Clerk. His brother, T.P Shannon (no. 3897), also served in World War 1 as a Private fighting as part of the 50th Infantry Battalion along the Western Front. Unfortunately, he was killed in action aged 29 before the enlistment of his brother.
When William was eleven years old, he injured his right knee playing Australian Rules Football. As a result of this injury, he laid in bed for two years resting his leg. Due to the lack of movement in his knee during this period of time, he developed Synovitis. Synovitis is the medical term for inflammation of the synovial membrane and it’s very painful when the joint is moved. Due to the pain of the Synovitis, William was unable to fully extend his right leg for the rest of his life. However, despite this disadvantage, he enlisted, age 28 and 3 months on October 3rd, 1916 as a Private, part of the 32nd Infantry Battalion. He was 5 feet, 9 inches tall, well-built with a medium complexion and had brown hair and brown eyes.
-Service
On the 16th of December 1916, William embarked from Adelaide boarding the HMAT A35 Berrima. Exactly two months later, he disembarked in Davenport, England and was moved into the 8th Training Battalion where he would undergo basic training. The aim of training was to build up physical fitness and improve self-discipline, obedience and military skills necessary for war.
After being hospitalised with influenza, he proceeded to France to be part of the 32nd Infantry Battalion in late 1917. Between October and December, the 32nd Infantry Battalion was involved in stop-start fighting along the border of France and Belgium, around Ypres and Locre. This was an important area of battle for the Triple Entente as this prevented any further advances by the German forces into France.
After his arrival in France, William was transferred into the General Headquarters, 3rd Echelon of the ANZAC section. This service provided the Front Line with essential military supplies, medical services, depots, base camps and engineering services to sustain fighting against the Germans.
In 1918, February 1st, William was taken on strength to be promoted to Corporal (for unknown reasons) and transferred to the General Headquarters of the Australian section while continuing to work as part of the 3rd Echelon. For the first half of 1918, the 32nd Infantry Battalion was involved in smaller fights in France, although had a relatively quiet time during the German Spring Offensive.
The 32nd Infantry Battalion fought its final battle in Hebecourt, France, September 1918 before resting and retraining as the war ended on the 11th of November, 1918.
At the end of his service in June 1919, William was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal to commend his act of service in World War 1.
After his detachment from War, it’s unknown how William spent the remainder of his life. However, it was recorded that he died on November 19th, 1952 aged 63.
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